A firm



No-.-752,172. 'PATENT ED FEB. 16, 1904.

J.. A.. Isa-mass- SHOE.

APPLIGATIOH FILED SEPT. 16 1903.

H0 MODEL.

nomdm I ma UNITED ST T-Es- Patented. February 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE. I

JOHN ALBERT MANSS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO URFI'I COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A FIRM. p

.SHOE,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 752,172, dated February 16, 1904. Application filed geptember 16, 1903. Serial No. 173,384. (No model.) i

T0 ail whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, J ornv ALBERT Mnnss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to a method of constructing and lacing a shoe, preferably ofthe low-cut form.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a lacing which passes around the mouth of the shoe between the lining and the upper and thence through the eyelets of the instep, so that the instep and the mouth of the shoe may be drawn by the lacing to fit the ankle and the instep, and both secured by tying the lacing, so as to obtain a close fit to the mouth of the shoe and an easy fit of the shoe at the instep.

Another object of my-invention is to cause the ankle-lacing to run entirely and freely around the mouth of the shoe between the lining and the upper out of actual contact with the foot of the wearer and still form an effectual lacing.

Another object of my invention is to so construct a laceway formed between the upper and the lining inwhich the lacing lies that it may be readily taken out and renewed by the wearer.

- The features of my invention are more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is an inside elevation of the top portion of the upper of a shoe, showing the lacing instrumentality applied to the mouth of the shoe; Fig. 2- is a top perspective view of a shoe, partly in section, showing the lacing in position for tying.

A represents the sole of the shoe; B, the

. vamp; C, the quarters; D, the back stay; E,

the eyelet-holes in the instep. The style of the cut is immaterial. the quarter preferably, andj'running entirely around the shoe, I form an inclosed way to receive the lacing F, which way is open at each side over the tongue G to allow a ready Between the lining and completed. In order to facilitate the apply ing of the lacing or string, I provide a number of slits a, pierced clear through the lining, so that the end of the lacing may be projected through at intervals in order to draw the lacing from one point to another. Ordinarily much fewer slits will be required than is shown in the drawings, Fig. 2, and the lacing could be accomplished by using only one opening at the rear portion of the shoe at the pointmarked t, though a number of slits are more convenient. Instead of being on the inside and through the lining one or more slits maybe made through the quarter, so that the string may pass out and be drawn through and reinserted in the laceway; but it is preferable to have the slits on the inside, for then the lacing is entirely concealed from view.

In the preferred form of the invention one end'of the string is laced through the eyelets in the ordinary manner, projecting from the top eyelet on one side of the shoe, the other end of the lacing passing around the ankleinclosed way and emerging from one end' thereof, extending across the instep and-engaging through the other top eyelet. Thus when tension is applied to the projecting ends of the lacing-string the flexible shoe-upper is uniformly contracted to the contour of the ankle. 1 1

There are many advantages obtained in this form of constructing and lacing a shoe. By obtaining a pull of the lace in a plane parallel to the mouth of the shoe it is made to fit the ankle of the wearer without bringing the lace in actual contact with the foot, and when simultaneously drawn the instep and the mouth The lacing when worn out can be readily renewed by the wearer and a neat, durable, and comfortable shoe is obtained.

It is obvious that instead of lacing the shoe in the form shown in Fig. 2 a separate lacing might be applied to the mouth of the shoe and readily renewed at any time by the wearer, the slits piercing into the laceway allowing the wearer to renew the string at any time. It is obvious that a line of stitches may be run parallel with the lacing and below the same, if desired; but this has no essential char: acteristics to the operation of the lacing.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A lace-shoe provided with the usual lacing and engaging devices therefor, an in closed way around the ankle, the lacing-string engaging said devices, also passing through said ankle-way, and having tying ends engaging the top pair of said engaging devices, whereby tension applied to said tying ends uniformly contracts the upper at the front and around the ankle, substantially as described.

2. A lace-shoe provided with the usual lacing and engaging devices therefor, an inclosed way around the ankle, transversely slitted upon the inside, the lacing-string engaging said devices also passing through said way, and having tying ends engaging the top pair of said devices, whereby tension applied to said tying ends uniformly contracts the upper at the front and around the ankle, substantially as described.

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN ALBERT MANSS. Witnesses:

OLIVER B. KAISER, LUISE BECK. 

